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The Symphony of the Seas cruise ship is shown docked at PortMiami, in a Wednesday, May 20, 2020, photo, in Miami. Cruise lines can soon begin trial voyages in U.S. waters. They’ll have to carry some volunteer passengers, who will have to wear face masks and observe social distancing while on board. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave ship operators final technical guidelines Wednesday, May 5, 2021 for the trial runs. (AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee)

CDC sets rules for trial cruises with volunteer passengers

Voyages would be in U.S. waters.

The Symphony of the Seas cruise ship is shown docked at PortMiami, in a Wednesday, May 20, 2020, photo, in Miami. Cruise lines can soon begin trial voyages in U.S. waters. They’ll have to carry some volunteer passengers, who will have to wear face masks and observe social distancing while on board. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention gave ship operators final technical guidelines Wednesday, May 5, 2021 for the trial runs. (AP Photo / Wilfredo Lee)
Good action spotted on a Grizzly Safaris trip. (Courtesy Photo / Grizzly Safaris)

Pride of Bristol Bay: A Conversation with Jerry and Caleb Jacques about their grizzly family

It’s a family grizz-ness.

Good action spotted on a Grizzly Safaris trip. (Courtesy Photo / Grizzly Safaris)
In this Empire file photo, an Alaska Marine Highway ferry is docked at the Auke Bay terminal in Juneau. A bill recently passed by the House of Representatives would create a new governing board, hopefully bringing stability to the ailing system. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)

House passes bill to create new ferry board

A more stable ferry system.

In this Empire file photo, an Alaska Marine Highway ferry is docked at the Auke Bay terminal in Juneau. A bill recently passed by the House of Representatives would create a new governing board, hopefully bringing stability to the ailing system. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire file)
Annie Bartholomew and Witty Youngman will each perform in an upcoming virtual concert hosted by Perseverance Theatre on Friday, May 7. The concert is the second in a series highlighting performers from throughout the state. (Courtesy Photos)
Capital City Weekly

Upcoming concert brings the music to the people

It’s a concerted effort.

Annie Bartholomew and Witty Youngman will each perform in an upcoming virtual concert hosted by Perseverance Theatre on Friday, May 7. The concert is the second in a series highlighting performers from throughout the state. (Courtesy Photos)
House Minority Leader Rep. Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, seen here speaking with Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, speak in the hall of the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 16, 2021, said the minority caucus is working on proposals for the annual Permanent Fund Dividend. The Legislature is approaching the end of the session, but has yet to allocate an amount for a PFD. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

As budget work continues, PFD question remains

A dividend divide.

House Minority Leader Rep. Cathy Tilton, R-Wasilla, seen here speaking with Rep. David Eastman, R-Wasilla, speak in the hall of the Alaska State Capitol on Feb. 16, 2021, said the minority caucus is working on proposals for the annual Permanent Fund Dividend. The Legislature is approaching the end of the session, but has yet to allocate an amount for a PFD. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Gloria Bixby, a student-athlete at Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, slides safely into second base and avoids the tag from Thunder Mountain’s Jenna Dobson during the first inning of a drizzly Friday night game. With about three weeks left in the school year, the Juneau School District announced new COVID-19 protocols that let student-athletes compete without masks. The changes begin this week and were shared with families in an email Monday evening. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau schools update COVID policies

Mask and travel guidelines changed in light of evolving factors.

Gloria Bixby, a student-athlete at Juneau Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, slides safely into second base and avoids the tag from Thunder Mountain’s Jenna Dobson during the first inning of a drizzly Friday night game. With about three weeks left in the school year, the Juneau School District announced new COVID-19 protocols that let student-athletes compete without masks. The changes begin this week and were shared with families in an email Monday evening. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
Fr. Gordon Blue takes part in the 31st annual Blessing of the Fleet and Reading of Names at the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial in Juneau on May 1, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)

Juneau holds annual ceremony blessing and recognizing fishermen

It was the 31st iteration of the ceremony.

Fr. Gordon Blue takes part in the 31st annual Blessing of the Fleet and Reading of Names at the Alaska Commercial Fishermen’s Memorial in Juneau on May 1, 2021. (Michael S. Lockett / Juneau Empire)
The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé and Thunder Mountain High School track teams held a meet at TMHS on April 30, 2021 as the track season gets going. (Courtesy photo / Dwayne Duskin)

Track teams up and running for spring season

Athletes are excited to get competing, coaches say.

The Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé and Thunder Mountain High School track teams held a meet at TMHS on April 30, 2021 as the track season gets going. (Courtesy photo / Dwayne Duskin)
A page in the Alaska House of Representatives hands out copies of a budget bill over 100 pages long on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire

With May 19 goal in mind, lawmakers speed up work

Saturday sessions.

A page in the Alaska House of Representatives hands out copies of a budget bill over 100 pages long on Friday, April 30, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire
Les Gara is a former state representative and former foster youth. Amanda Metivier is associate director of the Child Welfare Academy, Co-founder of Facing Foster Care in Alaska, a Social Worker, and also a former foster youth. (Courtesy Photo)

Opinion: Alaska is in dire need of caring foster families

COVID has possibly made you more important to foster youth than ever.

  • May 4, 2021
  • Les Gara and Amanda Metivier
Les Gara is a former state representative and former foster youth. Amanda Metivier is associate director of the Child Welfare Academy, Co-founder of Facing Foster Care in Alaska, a Social Worker, and also a former foster youth. (Courtesy Photo)
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Reports show value of UA workforce development programs

The economic value of training and education is abundantly clear

  • May 4, 2021
  • By Teri Cothren
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Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick, a 154-foot Sentinel–class vessel, towed the derelict tugboat Lumberman, to a position 54 miles west of Cross Sound, Alaska, on May 2, 2021. The decision to dispose of the Lumberman at sea, which had been abandoned in the Gastineau channel in 2016, was made after it was determined to be derelict and posed a significant public safety risk. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)

Lumberman finally towed out and scuttled

We won’t be seeing it again.

Coast Guard Cutter John McCormick, a 154-foot Sentinel–class vessel, towed the derelict tugboat Lumberman, to a position 54 miles west of Cross Sound, Alaska, on May 2, 2021. The decision to dispose of the Lumberman at sea, which had been abandoned in the Gastineau channel in 2016, was made after it was determined to be derelict and posed a significant public safety risk. (Courtesy photo / U.S. Coast Guard)
Gray-crowned rosy-finches visited our wetlands in April, on their way to alpine nesting areas. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)

On The Trails: Finding rosy-finches and some excitement

After a long lonely stroll, I finally spotted my birds

Gray-crowned rosy-finches visited our wetlands in April, on their way to alpine nesting areas. (Courtesy Photo / Kerry Howard)
Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File Claire Scott, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, has been named a 2021 National Merit Scholarship winner. She is the only student in Alaska to receive the honor this year. In addition to a perfect grade point average, she has published two graphic novels. Here, she shows off her second published comic book, A Most Peculiar Alarm Clock, at Alaska Robotics Gallery on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.

JDHS senior named National Merit Scholar

She is Alaska’s only 2021 recipient

Michael Penn /Juneau Empire File Claire Scott, a senior at Juneau-Douglas High School: Yadaa.at Kalé, has been named a 2021 National Merit Scholarship winner. She is the only student in Alaska to receive the honor this year. In addition to a perfect grade point average, she has published two graphic novels. Here, she shows off her second published comic book, A Most Peculiar Alarm Clock, at Alaska Robotics Gallery on Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2019.
FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011 file photo, the remains of a carp are seen on the dry lake bed of O.C. Fisher Lake in San Angelo, Texas. According to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the new United States normal is not just hotter, but wetter in the eastern and central parts of the nation and considerably drier in the West than just a decade earlier. (AP Photo / Tony Gutierrez)

America’s new normal: A degree hotter than two decades ago

America’s new normal temperature is a degree hotter than it was just two decades ago.

FILE - In this Wednesday, Aug. 3, 2011 file photo, the remains of a carp are seen on the dry lake bed of O.C. Fisher Lake in San Angelo, Texas. According to data released by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration on Tuesday, May 4, 2021, the new United States normal is not just hotter, but wetter in the eastern and central parts of the nation and considerably drier in the West than just a decade earlier. (AP Photo / Tony Gutierrez)
Members of the Alaska House of Representatives spent hours in floor sessions Saturday and Sunday inside the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Monday, April 26, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

House moves budget back to committee

More time to talk.

Members of the Alaska House of Representatives spent hours in floor sessions Saturday and Sunday inside the Alaska State Capitol, seen here on Monday, April 26, 2021. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Rev. Simeon Johnson, rector of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in downtown Juneau, celebrates orthodox Easter, or Pascha, with his congregation on Sunday, May 2, 2021. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)

After a missed year, historic church celebrates

Parishioners gather in Juneau, Livestream to villages

Rev. Simeon Johnson, rector of St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in downtown Juneau, celebrates orthodox Easter, or Pascha, with his congregation on Sunday, May 2, 2021. (Dana Zigmund/Juneau Empire)
Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, met with reporters after delivering an address to the first joint session of 2021 for the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, May 3, 2021. Sullivan was critical of the Biden administration in his remarks to lawmakers, saying his environmental policies were punative to Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)

Sullivan talks tough on jobs, China

Room for work.

Sen. Dan Sullivan, R-Alaska, met with reporters after delivering an address to the first joint session of 2021 for the Alaska State Legislature on Monday, May 3, 2021. Sullivan was critical of the Biden administration in his remarks to lawmakers, saying his environmental policies were punative to Alaska. (Peter Segall / Juneau Empire)
Nora Baldwin, 8, a member of Girl Scout Troop 4009 carries a dirty shirt found on the side of Mendenhall Loop Road in between gloved fingers toward a litter bag on Saturday, May 1, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)

Juneau has its pick of the litter

Many hands make litter work.

Nora Baldwin, 8, a member of Girl Scout Troop 4009 carries a dirty shirt found on the side of Mendenhall Loop Road in between gloved fingers toward a litter bag on Saturday, May 1, 2021. (Ben Hohenstatt / Juneau Empire)
A magnitude 4.7 earthquake, indicated by the large red dot on the Alaska Earthquake Center’s quake map, occurred near the surface, about 60 miles east of Elfin Cove, early in the morning of May 1, 2021. (Screenshot / AEC)

Magnitude 4.7 earthquake reported west of Elfin Cove

Rumbles felt in Juneau.

A magnitude 4.7 earthquake, indicated by the large red dot on the Alaska Earthquake Center’s quake map, occurred near the surface, about 60 miles east of Elfin Cove, early in the morning of May 1, 2021. (Screenshot / AEC)